The Punjab government established a Virtual Women’s Police Station at the provincial level about a year ago to address crimes against women, including harassment, domestic violence, and disputes, but hundreds of complaints from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, and Gujranwala, remain pending.

A senior police officer revealed that most complaints involve minor domestic disputes, often withdrawn by complainants after private resolution. However, the police must register FIRs for all complaints received at the virtual women’s police station, following strict orders from higher authorities. Cases, whether valid or not, are only dismissed during the investigation phase.

Police officials stated that while the initiative aims to support women, it has also led to unintended consequences. In some cases, citizens accuse the police of unnecessarily interfering in private matters. For instance, in Rawalpindi, Waris Khan police registered a harassment case against a husband based on his wife’s complaint, while Bani police recorded a domestic abuse case despite the complainant not filing a formal application.

A police officer, speaking anonymously, claimed that the provincial authorities monitoring the virtual police station focus on increasing complaint statistics rather than resolving issues. He noted that automatic FIR registrations burden citizens with legal expenses, including lawyer fees and court costs.

Human Rights Advocate Raja Sajid Aziz criticised the practice, stating that filing FIRs for minor disputes worsens domestic and social issues. He emphasised that traditional mediation councils and reconciliation committees have long been effective in resolving family conflicts.

Advocate Aziz emphasised that just as women have rights in society, so do husbands, fathers, brothers, and every man. While ensuring justice and relief for women is important, it should not come at the expense of violating the rights of others. Therefore, the government should re-evaluate this issue and establish a balanced mechanism that improves social harmony.

Advocate Aziz urged the government to reassess the initiative and establish a balanced mechanism that protects women’s rights without violating those of others.

Meanwhile, a police spokesperson clarified that FIRs for cognizable offences should only be registered after verifying all facts.

The virtual police station is integrated with emergency police services across all districts of Punjab. Any complaint related to crimes against women, received through the 15 Emergency Centres, is automatically recorded and monitored at both district and police station levels.

The ongoing debate surrounding the Virtual Women’s Police Station has sparked calls for a review of its implementation. Critics argue that while the initiative is well-intentioned, its execution has led to unintended consequences, such as overburdening the legal system and increasing the financial strain on citizens.

As the number of pending cases continues to rise, it remains to be seen whether the Punjab government will adjust the policy to strike a balance between supporting women’s rights and safeguarding the rights of all parties involved.